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Evening at Playboy Mansion just another fight night for UFC’s Melendez

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title holder Benson Henderson meets former Strikeforce title holder Gilbert Melendez, while Frank Mir takes on Daniel Cormier in the co-main event, of UFC on FOX 7, on April 20 in San Jose, Calif.

On Saturday night, Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to network airwaves with UFC on FOX 7 from San Jose, Calif., where Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez meets UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the main event. Taking a break from his fight-week preparations, Melendez went 1-on-1 with Postmedia MMA reporter Dave Deibert, discussing his night at the Playboy Mansion, the most nerve-racking experience of his life and how much sympathy he’s able to get from his girlfriend following a fight ...

POSTMEDIA: You’re going to be on FOX, home to So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol. Which would you do better on: the dancing show or the singing show?

MELENDEZ: Dancing, by far. I don’t know if I’m good at it but I know I’m horrible, for sure, at singing.

POSTMEDIA: How much thought goes into the underwear you wear during weigh-ins?

MELENDEZ: Not so much (laughs). It used to be a little bit less but more now that I’ve got my girl and she helps me. Depending on my sponsor, they might make me wear (something specific). But there’s a little more thought going into it. You can’t weigh in in some raggedy-ass underwear, that’s for sure.

POSTMEDIA: Fans are always asking you for retweets on Twitter. What fellow celebrity would you most love to get a retweet from?

MELENDEZ: Ah, let me think. You know who I like to follow a lot, always makes me laugh, is Bill Maher.

POSTMEDIA: Pick a time or an event in history that you would love to be a part of.

MELENDEZ: I’d love to be in the Wild West. My mom said I’d be a good cowboy. I don’t know if I’d be handy with the steel but I could live off beef jerky and I could live off the land.

POSTMEDIA: You worked as a waiter in your younger days. Having been in that position, are you an extra-good tipper when the service warrants it?

MELENDEZ: One hundred per cent. I’m a pretty good tipper regardless, but I’m also critical. If you do a great job, you’re going to get a great tip. If you do an OK job, you’ll still get a good tip. If you do a bad job, I might write a little note but we’ll still give you a fair tip.

POSTMEDIA: A few years ago, you competed on a Strikeforce card held at the Playboy Mansion. Was there ever a moment during that fight where your mind wandered to the scenery?

MELENDEZ: I fought at the Playboy Mansion but it wasn’t a Hugh Hefner party. It was a Strikeforce party. So believe it or not, there was a lot of dudes there (laughs).

POSTMEDIA: You celebrated your 31st birthday earlier this week, so your 20s are now well in the rear-view mirror. Are you getting older or better?

MELENDEZ: I think I’m getting better. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot more. Maybe I don’t go out and party as much but when I do go party, we do it big (laughs) … I’ve got a good family. I’m definitely in a different chapter. Sometimes I talk to my young friends and reminisce on the good old days but I’m getting better.

MELENDEZ: I’m a guy who never really wants anything. A surprise birthday party was pretty memorable last year for my dirty 30.

POSTMEDIA: What was a more nerve-racking time for you: this week, leading up to your UFC debut, or the time leading up to the birth of your daughter?

MELENDEZ: Wow. I think, not the leading-up days, but I was the most nervous at the actual labour of my daughter. That is some life-threatening (expletive). People can actually die doing that. That was the most nervous anything I’ve ever been … I’d say the pregnancy wins. It’s also my biggest accomplishment.

POSTMEDIA: What’s the best sports movie training montage?

MELENDEZ: Rocky 1 through 4. It doesn’t get better than that.

POSTMEDIA: Even Rocky 4? I get 1, 2 and 3, but when Rocky’s climbing the mountain in just his boots and Drago is unsubtlely getting the needles ...

MELENDEZ: Rocky 1, 3 and 4 are the best. I still love it. I love Drago’s training, aside from the needles.

POSTMEDIA: After a fight, you’re battered and bruised. How much sympathy can you get from your girlfriend?

MELENDEZ: Not at all. As soon as the fight’s over, everything’s over (laughs). Right now is when I have my tuna fish sandwich, and my water, delivered to bed. I’m getting all the treatment. As soon as the fight’s over, there’s no more sympathy from anyone.

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